Form anchor

ABSTRACT

A new and improved form anchor providing a quicker and easier method of forming concrete with steel forms. The anchor can be used with any conventional standard C-shaped form without requiring special fabrication or modification thereof. The stake may be located at any point along the length of the form.

D United States Patent [191 [111 3,881,681

Sumpter et a]. May 6, 1975 [54] FORM ANCHOR |,700,798 2/l929 Heltzel 249/6 2,803,055 3 1957 St I t l. 249 219 R [761 Invent: Dame 2,90s,9s9 10/1959 H gail ei a? 2 49/208 Rodriguez; both Of BOX 305, 3,136,023 6/l964 Von Drasek... 249 192 Channelvww, Tex 77530 3,785,606 |/|974 Green 249/3 [22] Filed: Aug. '22, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin 390,488 Assistant Examiner-John McQuade Attorney, Agent, or FirmPravel & Wilson [52] U.S. CI 249/3; 249/208 [5 1] Int. Cl 1328b 7/00 57 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 249/29, 165-166, d f

249,205, 207 2o8 219 R A new arid lmprove orm anohor prov! mg a qulcker and easler method of formmg concrete wlth steel [561 220852:25;::23":szzisitzszigzszzmzs' UNITED F PATENTS rication or modification thereof. The stake may be lo- HOtChklSS sated at any point along the length of the form 1,542,886 6/1925 Hotchkiss I,65l,787 5/l927 Venable.................................. 24916 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures FORM ANCHOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to apparatus for retaining forms for concrete and like materials in place.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art apparatus for general use in retaining concrete forms in place were of two general types. A first type, exemplified by US. Pat. Nos. 2,835,017 and 3,300,920, used stakes which were attached by nails to wooden boards which were used as forms. The wooden boards had short service life due to harsh use and due to damage when being removed and installed. Further, much time was consumed in attaching the stakes to the boards.

A second type anchor as typified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,349,340; 1,527,698; 2,887,756; and 3,l36,023; permitting anchoring of the forms only at certain fixed locations where structure was provided on the form to receive a stake to anchor the form to the ground.

Other anchors, such as in US. Pat. No. 3,588,026, were adapted for special purpose use with concrete having steel rods embedded therein with ends extending therefrom and thus not suitable for general use with concrete slabs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention provides a new and improved apparatus for anchoring a form for concrete and the like in place on a surface during pouring and hardening operations. A gripping means attached to the surface by a stake means releasably grips the form, without requiring nails or other fixed attachments, permitting subsequent re-use of the forms and the anchoring apparatus.

The present invention further provides a new and improved apparatus for anchoring forms for concrete in place on a surface during pouring and hardening operations. The releasable gripping of the forms by the anchors of the present invention permits the anchors to be placed in various locations along the forms rather than at fixed locations, permitting sufficient anchors to be placed at varyingly spaced locations to support the forms during pouring and hardening operations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for anchoring forms for concrete and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation, taken partly in cross-section of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the apparatus in a slightly different position from FIG. I; and

FIG. 5 is an isometric view, taken partly in crosssection of a gasket used in the apparatus of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, the letter A designates generally the apparatus of the present invention for anchoring a form C for concrete and the like in place on a surface S during pouring and hardening operations. The form C is a standard cold-form C-shaped pouring form known in the art as a cee-shaped form, commercially available from numerous manufacturers. As is known, the form C provides boundaries for a slab 10 or other body of concrete being poured on the surface S.

The apparatus A includes a gripping plate or strap G for releasably gripping the form C and a stake T for attaching the gripping plate G to the surface S so that the form C is anchored thereto.

A downwardly extending strip or rim 12 of the form C is gripped between an upper portion 14 of the gripping plate G and an upper end 16 of the stake T when the gripping plate G is in an operating position (FIG. 1) gripping the form C. An upwardly extending strip or rim 18 of the form C is gripped between a lower portion 20 of the gripping plate G and a portion 22 of the stake T near the surface S in the operating position. A spacer or gasket R of rubber or other suitable resilient material encloses the gripping plate G to provide a firm grip of the form C and the stake T and to yield and permit relative movement between the gripping plate G and the stake T. A lower portion 24 of the stake T is driven into the surface S by a hammer or other suitable means. The lower portion 24 may have a pointed tip (not shown) for ease of insertion, if desired.

An operating lever or rod 0 moves the gripping plate G between the operating position (FIG. 1) gripping the form C and a release position (FIG. 4) releasing the form C. A clevis member L operably connects the operating lever O with the gripping plate G.

The clevis member L is U-shaped in horizontal crosssection (FIG. 2) having two outwardly extending arms 26 and 28 and a central connecting arm 30. Circular openings are formed in the arms 26 and 28 of the clevis member L adjacent surfaces 32 and 34, respectively, so that a pivot arm 36 of the operating lever 0 may be inserted therein. A portion of the pivot arm 36 is removed adjacent a surface 38 (FIGS. 2 and 3) to provide for ease of insertion of the pivot arm 36 into the clevis member L (FIG. 4). Further, formation of the surface 38 on the pivot arm 36 of the operating lever 0 permits the operating lever O acting through the clevis member L to cause relative movement of the gripping plate G from the release position (FIG. 4) during relative rotational movement of the operating lever O in the direction indicated by an arrow 40 (FIG. I) to the operating position by moving a center portion of the gripping plate G towards the stake T (FIG. 1 The upper portion 14 and the lower portion 20 of the gripping plate G are prevented from inward movement by the rims l2 and 18, respectively, of the form C, so that a clamping or gripping force is exerted on the form C, holding the form C in place.

The operating lever O has a lever arm 42 formed therewith extending outwardly from the pivot arm 36 to an anchor arm 44 (FIG. 1) which extends outwardly from the lever arm 42 in a reverse direction (manner) to the pivot arm 36.

A tie-down peg or pin P (FIG. 1), having downwardly extending arms 46 and 48 which are driven into the surface S and a central portion 50 enclosing the anchor arm 44 of the operating lever 0, serves as a peg for fixing the operating lever O in place in the operating position, preventing relative movement of the operating lever when the form C is holding the concrete in place during pouring and hardening operations.

Considering the gasket R more in detail (FIG. 5), an upper portion 52 thereof encloses the upper portion 14 of the gripping plate G. The upper portion 52 is generally C-shaped in horizontal cross-section (FIG. 5) with a back portion 54 mounted between the upper portion 14 of the gripping plate G and the form C and the stake T. Outwardly extending side portions 56 and 58 are formed at each end of the back portion 54 of the upper portion 52 of the gasket R and connect the back portion 54 to inwardly extending positions 60 and 62, respectively, so that the upper portion 52 of the gasket R can be snapped about and enclose the gripping plate G so that the gasket R is held in place therewith.

A center strap portion 64 of the gasket R connects the upper portion 52 and a lower portion 66 of the gasket R. Lower portions of the strap G are not shown in FIG. 5 in order to more clearly show the structure of the center strap 64 and other portions of the gasket R. Absence of side portions and inwardly extending portions with the center strap portion 64 permits passage of the clevis member L about the gripping plate G so that the gripping plate G is operably connected with the operating lever O in the manner set forth above.

A back portion 68 of the lower portion 66 of the gasket R is mounted between the lower portion of the gripping plate G and the form C and the stake T. Outwardly extending side portions 70 and 72 are formed with the back portion 68 and have inwardly extending portions 74 and 76, respectively, formed therewith so that the lower portion 20 of the gripping plate G is enclosed within the gasket R, once the gasket R is snapped thereabout, thereby holding the gripping plate firmly in place within the gasket R.

It is to be noted that due to the releasable gripping of the form C by the gripping plate G, no fabrication is required with respect to the cee-shaped" form C in order to operably connect it to the stake T. Accordingly, the apparatus A of the present invention may be located at any point along the length of the form C. Further, sufficient apparatus A may be placed at varyingly spaced distances from each other in order to provide support for the form C and concrete 10 during pouring and hardening operations rather than requiring that the anchors be placed at fixed locations.

it is further to be noted that the operating lever 0 serves as a locking mechanism holding the form C firmly in the grip of the gripping plate G. The operating lever 0 further serves as a brace to stabilize the stake T from moving due to the force of the concrete being placed against the form C during pouring operations. Further, the locking action of the operating lever O is accomplished simply by rotating the lever 0 after insetting the pivot arm 36 through the holes in the clevis member L. It is to be noted that this locking action thereby involves no threaded connectors or additional loose pieces which would complicate anchoring operations.

In the operation of the present invention, the form C is placed in the desired location where the concrete is to be poured. Sufficient numbers of the apparatus A are placed at varyingly spaced distances from each other in order to support the form C and the concrete during pouring and hardening. The stakes T of the apparatus A are then driven into the surface S at the desired locations, with the clevis member L enclosing the gripping plate G and gasket R against the stake T (FIGS. 1 and 4), and the gripping plate G and gasket R inserted within the strips 12 and 18 on the form C.

The pivot arm 36 of the operating lever O is then inserted into the clevis member L, with the surface 38 contacting the stake T (FIG. 4). The operating lever O is then rotated downwardly as indicated by the arrow 40. As the operating lever O is so rotated, it causes the clevis member L to pull the gripping plate G against the stake T (FIGS. 1-3). The upper portion 14 and the lower portion 20 of the gripping plate G thereby fric tionally grip the strips 12 and 18, respectively, of the form C against the stake T thereby preventing the form C from moving. When the operating lever O is rotated so that the anchor arm 44 is in contact with the surface S, the tie-down pin P is driven into the surface S to hold the operating lever O in place, permitting the operating lever O to further serve as a brace to stabilize the stake T from movement during the pouring of the concrete due to the force of the concrete being placed against the form C.

After the concrete 10 has hardened, the pin P may be removed and the releasable grip of the form C by the apparatus A released by moving the operating lever O upwardly to the release position (FIG. 4) so that the gripping plate G and gasket R may be removed from the form C. The form C can then be removed from the concrete 10. In this manner, the form C, the stake T, the operating lever O and gripping plate G may be reused without requiring structural modification or reconstruction.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size. shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for anchoring a pouring form, having a forming surface and upper and lower mounting rims formed therewith defining a central opening between them, on a surface for concrete pouring and the like, comprising:

a. gripping means insertable in the central opening of the form, said gripping means having means therewith for releasably engaging the mounting rims of the form for releasably gripping the form; and

b. stake means for insertion into the surface at a position external of the form and adjacent said gripping means; and

c. means for moving said gripping means into position gripping the mounting rims of the form against said stake means, wherein the form is anchored to the surface.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said means for moving comprises:

a lever moving said gripping means between an operating position gripping the rims of the form against said stake means and a release position releasing the rims of the form from the stake means.

3. The structure of claim 2, further including:

peg means for fixing said lever to hold said gripping means in the operating position.

4. The structure of claim 2, further including:

clevis means for connecting said gripping means with said means for moving.

5. The structure of claim 1, further including:

gasket means enclosing said gripping means for providing a firm grip on the rims of the form and protecting said gripping means against wear and damage.

a position enclosing said plate member and said stake means therein.

8. The structure of claim 7, wherein said clevis member has openings for insertion of said lever to enclose 6. The structure of claim 1, wherein said gripping 5 said plate member and said stake means therein and means comprises:

a plate member insertable in the central opening having upper and lower portions engaging the upper and lower mounting rims of the form.

7. The structure of claim 6, wherein said means for moving includes:

a. a clevis member enclosing said plate member and said stake means therein; and

b. a lever pivotally mounted in said clevis member at wherein:

said lever includes a pivot arm insertable into the openings of said lever. 9. The structure of claim 8, wherein: said pivot arm of said lever has a portion thereof removed to cause said lever to cause relative movement of said gripping means with respect to said stake means during pivotal movement of said lever. 

1. An apparatus for anchoring a pouring form, having a forming surface and upper and lower mounting rims formed therewith defining a central opening between them, on a surface for concrete pouring and the like, comprising: a. gripping means insertable in the central opening of the form, said gripping means having means therewith for releasably engaging the mounting rims of the form for releasably gripping the form; and b. stake means for insertion into the surface at a position external of the form and adjacent said gripping means; and c. means for moving said gripping means into position gripping the mounting rims of the form against said stake means, wherein the form is anchored to the surface.
 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said means for moving comprises: a lever moving said gripping means between an operating position gripping the rims of the form against said stake means and a release position releasing the rims of the form from the stake means.
 3. The structure of claim 2, further including: peg means for fixing said lever to hold said gripping means in the operating position.
 4. The structure of claim 2, further including: clevis means for connecting said gripping means with said means for moving.
 5. The structure of claim 1, further including: gasket means enclosing said gripping means for providing a firm grip on the rims of the form and protecting said gripping means against wear and damage.
 6. The structure of claim 1, wherein said gripping means comprises: a plate member insertable in the central opening having upper and lower portions engaging the upper and lower mounting rims of the form.
 7. The structure of claim 6, wherein said means for moving includes: a. a clevis member enclosing said plate member and said stake means therein; and b. a lever pivotally mounted in said clevis member at a position enclosing said plate member and said stake means therein.
 8. The structure of claim 7, wherein said clevis member has openings for insertion of said lever to enclose said plate member and said stake means therein and wherein: said lever includes a pivot arm insertable into the openings of said lever.
 9. The structure of claim 8, wherein: said pivot arm of said lever has a portion thereof removed to cause said lever to cause relative movement of said gripping means with respect to said stake means during pivotal movement of said lever. 